Your entryway styling game may be totally on point but chances are your bath is lacking in chic vignettes and beautiful accessories. This often forgotten space deserves a little style love too. With a few key components, your bathroom will be running with the best of them. Art, window treatments and accessories that pull double duty are part of the master plan. Tour a small but mighty bathroom re-do from Jessica McClendon along with pics by Mary Costa and grab her top tips for revamping your space!

The theme for this small bathroom remodel was balance! Both my client’s oldest son and guests use the bathroom, so it serves multiple purposes. We wanted its design to fit the overall design aesthetic of the rest of the home, but we wanted her son to feel comfortable and represented, too. I was tasked with finding the perfect balance between a highly functional and high-style design for this space. And with a quick, two-week turnaround, I had to be super thoughtful about my product selections, only using those that were in stock and ready to go!

When decorating powder rooms, I love to start with unique wallpaper, lighting and accessories. But with a shower in this small bathroom, I knew that moisture was going to be a real issue, meaning wallpaper was out of the question. Instead, I opted for tile in a chevron pattern to get the same “wallpaper” feel. It’s stylish, makes a statement, and is just masculine enough not to make my client’s son roll his eyes.

Next, we needed to address storage. The original design just had a pedestal sink, so I replaced it with a prefab vanity and medicine cabinet from Restoration Hardware. The vanity was a gift from the design gods as it addressed every need: in stock, fit our space, gave us storage, and was high style. I love that it has a light industrial feel with a masculine vibe, but also flows with the East Coast architecture of the home and my client’s playful style. To add a bit of color, we hung beach themed prints from Minted in whitewashed frames, and they were the perfect pop. We finished off the space with fresh flowers, a necessity for every space, and I’m happy to report that the bathroom was finished just in time for her arriving guests.

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Designer Tips for Styling a Bathroom

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If there’s a window, add a window treatment. I love using tailored roman shades in the bathroom. They feel simple and clean, but add texture to an otherwise sterile and hard-surfaced environment. The shade and trim I used in this bathroom is actually made from outdoor fabric, which is ideal as it’s resistant to moisture.

Opt for functional accessories like trays, candles and canisters. Trays help to keep things visually tidy. Display one on a vanity with ample counter space, or on the back of the toilet for smaller bathrooms and powder rooms. Candles are pretty and, well…always appreciated in a bathroom! Canisters a great way to add style and personality while making bath necessities, such as cotton balls and Q-tips, easy to get to on a daily basis.

For instant texture and interest, think art. With great affordable art resources like Minted and Society6, it’s easy to bring something unique to the space without breaking the bank. Just remember not to hang anything too precious in bathrooms with a shower. The moisture will eventually take its toll.

Add something unexpected. This is universal tip to keep in mind when decorating any room, including the bathroom! It can be anything. Just get creative! In the past I’ve used a brass peace sign and a bowl of antique keys in my designs. In this bathroom, the vintage clock adds a unique element.

Start with a neutral base. 80% of the time I will choose neutral color finishes for tile and will bring color into the space through the paint, wallpaper, art and towels. I do this to add longevity to the bathroom, and because remodeling a bathroom is expensive!